May 21, 2012

U.S. Department of 

Transportation 

Docket Management System 

400 7th Street SW, Plaza 401 

Washington, DC 20591-0001 

Re: Exemption No. 5487, FAA Docket No. FAA-2002-12455 

Ladies/Gentlemen: 

In accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14CFR) § 11.61, the Air 

Transport Association, Inc. (DBA “Airlines for America”), on behalf of its member 

airlines

1

and other similarly situated Part 121 certificate holders, petitions the 

Administrator for an extension of Exemption No. 5487I. This exemption is scheduled to 

expire on July 31, 2012. 

14 CFR § 61.3(a) provides, in pertinent part, that no person may, within the United 

States, act as pilot in command or in any other capacity as a required flight crewmember 

of a U.S. civil aircraft unless he or she has in their personal possession a current pilot 

certificate issued under Part 61. Sections 61.3(c) and 121.383(a)(2) state that no person 

may act as pilot in command or in any other capacity as a required flight crewmember 

unless he or she has in their personal possession an appropriate current medical certificate 

issued under Part 67. Section 63.3(a) sets forth similar requirements for flight engineers. 

Section 121.383(a)(2) establishes similar requirements for airmen. 

Exemption No. 5487I provides relief from 14 CFR §§ 61.3(a) and (c), 63.3(a), and 

121.383(a)(2). It permits the establishment of special procedures that enable an operator 

to issue to its flight crewmembers, on a temporary basis, confirmation of any required 

crewmember certificates based upon information contained in the operator's approved 

record system subject to certain conditions and limitations. Exemption No. 5487I has 

proved to be a useful device that benefits the commercial aviation industry and the flying 

public. For this reason, it should be extended. 

A4A Members include: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, Evergreen 

International, Federal Express, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, 

United Parcel Service Co., US Airways. Air Canada is an associate member. 
U.S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System 

Docket No. FAA-2002-12455 

May 21, 2012

Page Two 

Good cause exists to complete action on this petition by July 31, 2012. (14 CFR § 

11.81). With regard to public interest and equivalent levels of safety, the conditions and 

circumstances, which warranted the grant of exemption originally, continue to exist. 

Over ten years of operational experience under this exemption demonstrates that granting 

a renewal of Exemption 5487I would not adversely affect safety and would be in the 

public interest. 

Furthermore, the renewal of this exemption is not a controversial issue. This petition 

does not seek to establish a precedent, but merely would continue an accepted and 

established practice. Accordingly, A4A (ATA) requests that publication in the Federal 

Register be waived as unnecessary (14 CFR §11.87). 

A summary of this petition is attached as required by 14 CFR §11.81. If you have any 

questions or need additional information, please call me at (202) 626-4240. 

 Very truly yours,

 /s/

AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION 

OF AMERICA (DBA Airlines 

for America)

Paul W. Railsback

Director of Operations

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 

Suite 1100

Washington, D.C. 20004-1707 

(202) 626-4012

prailsback@airlines.org 
Attachment 

SUMMARY OF PETITION

Air Transport Association of America (A4A) 

Regulations affected

14 CFR § 61.3(a) and (c)

14 CFR § 61.29(c) 

14 CFR § 63.3(a) 

14 CFR § 63.16(d) 

14 CFR § 121.383(a)(2) 

Description of Relief Sought: 

The Air Transport Association of America (A4A) petitions on behalf of its member 

airlines and other similarly situated Part 121 operators for an extension of 

Exemption No. 5487I. The exemption permits establishment of special procedures 

that enable an operator to issue to its flight crewmembers, on a temporary basis, 

confirmation of any required crewmember certificates based upon information 

contained in the operator's approved record system subject to certain conditions 

and limitations.